When the pilot of his small plane collapsed in the cockpit, passenger John Wildey took the controls of the Cessna 172 over England, and suddenly began his first experience of landing - with some help from instructors on the ground.

"I hadn't a clue what to do to get down," the 77-year-old Wildey told the BBC on Wednesday. "I've never flown a plane before."

Officials at Humberside Airport in northwest England put emergency plans into place and flight instructors were called in to help Wildey after the mayday call went out Tuesday evening.

Soon after he landed, his friend the pilot, the only other person aboard the aircraft, died....